March 02, 2005 was the 60th Anniversary of the official raising of
the US Flag on Corregidor.

Page A2
Philippine Daily Enquirer, 3 March 2005

RP, US
soldiers mark Corregidor liberation

Philippine and US soldiers raised their flags yesterday on Corregidor Island in
ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the island's liberation from Japanese
forces in World War II.

On
March 2, 1945, General Douglas MacArthur, the wartime commander of allied forces
in the Pacific, raised the American flag on Corregidor, three years after he was
ordered to leave it as the Japanese were invading the Philippines, then a US
colony.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone, and the
envoys of Britain, Australia and New Zealand -- wartime allies of the United
States -- offered wreaths at the Pacific War Memorial, where a brief program was
held beside ruins of US garrisons.

Beth
Day Romulo, president of the Corregidor Foundation, recalled "that glorious day
when Corregidor Island was finally retaken" following 14 days of fierce combat
between Japanese and US forces, including paratroopers from the 503rd Parachute
Regimental Combat Team.

Military historians say that of 6,550 Japanese soldiers on the island, only 50
survived. The paratroopers lost 169 men.

Romulo said Corregidor, also known as "The Rock" and now a tourist destination,
should be preserved as a "dramatic reminder of the horrors of war and the
courage of those who lived and died here."

Ricciardone said commemorating the sacrifices of US and Filipino soldiers was an
opportunity "to rededicate ourselves to paying that same price they paid to
upholding ever and always the cause of freedom and democracy" by strengthening
alliances "including some of those who were our adversaries in World War II."

The
Americans held a separate ceremony for the paratroopers attended by Major
General Elbert N. Perkins, commander of the US Army Japan and 9th Theater
Support Command.

The
503rd Veterans Association said in a message read by Ricciardone: "The sons of
America, like their fathers and grandfathers, face a new war, a war against
extremist terrorism."

"Once again, good men -- our best and brightest -- struggle so that others may
live in liberty," it said.

PRESS RELEASE:

AMERICAN EMBASSY, MANILA
FOR 2 MARCH 2005

U.S. ARMY RANGERS, AFP IN JOINT PARACHUTE
JUMP TO COMMEMORATE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF MACARTHUR’S FLAG
RAISING ON CORREGIDOR

Corregidor, Philippines
-- A detachment of U.S. Army Rangers and AFP paratroopers will commemorate
today’s 60th Anniversary of MacArthur’s Flag Raising on
Corregidor March 2 in a joint jump. More than 50 soldiers will join
senior U.S. officials
as well as Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at Topside
Barracks to honor the sacrifice and success of the battle for Corregidor.

Attending with
U.S. Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone will be Major General Elbert N.
Perkins, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Japan/9th Theater
Support Group; Colonel Matias Velasco, Chief of the Joint United States
Military Assistance Group; and Colonel Terry Cook, U.S. Defense Attaché.

Also participating will be numerous veterans from this historic
event, Republic of the Philippines’ government and military leaders,
elected officials plus military and diplomatic dignitaries from allied
nations: Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada, the
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and Italy.

Other events include a Joint/Combined Color Guard
presentation, a concert by the 296th U.S. Army Band, and a
wreath laying ceremony by dignitaries at the 503rd Parachute
Regimental Combat Team (PRCT) Memorial. This commemoration is one of nine
key Philippine Campaign commemorations scheduled during 2004-2005.

Six decades ago on March 2nd the 503rd
PRCT, the “Rock Force,” jumping from an altitude of 400 feet dropped an
assault force on the Topside Barracks’ parade grounds and nearby golf
course. A battle ensued and within minutes, the 503rd
paratroopers had killed the Japanese commander and a large majority of the
Japanese troops. After 14 days of fierce fighting, Corregidor was
declared secure, and the 503rd raised the American flag in the
presence of General MacArthur at Topside Barracks. March 2, 1945 was nine
days short of the third year anniversary of MacArthur’s departure from
Corregidor in 1942. The Battle for Corregidor involved one of the most
complex and successful airborne operations in World War II.

CW4 Edward J. Leferink of Missouri commands the 296th
U.S. Army Band, which is based in Camp Zama, Japan. It was activated in
1941 as the 96th Coastal Artillery Band at Camp Davis, North
Carolina. During the Second World War the band participated in the
Western Pacific Campaign and in modern times has served in Japan. For
more information, visit the
296th
U. S. Army Band.